A Slap? No! I Want Their Lives!

After finishing breakfast and saying hello to Ye Qinru, Fang Xuan headed straight toward the imperial palace.

Ye Lingling's idea was good, but at most, it would only give the other side a hard slap across the face.

It would vent their anger, but it was not ruthless enough. What he wanted was to dig out the roots.

What he had always believed was that if you cut the weeds without removing the roots, they would grow again when the spring wind blew.

Either don't do it, or do it thoroughly!

He was going to destroy the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. No one could stop him. He said so!

With his previous experience, Fang Xuan found his way with ease to the Crown Prince's chambers where Xue Qinghe resided.

It was still early, and Xue Qinghe seemed somewhat surprised by Fang Xuan's visit.

"Brother Fang Xuan, coming to see me this early—do you have something urgent?"

As an adviser, he did not need to appear before him all the time.

Only when she personally summoned him, or when there was something to discuss, did they need to talk face-to-face in detail.

She had only met with him yesterday, and now he had come to find her first thing in the morning. Wasn't it obvious he had something to ask of her?

"There is indeed something I'd like to discuss with Your Highness. Would now be convenient?"

At this moment, there were still guards and palace maids beside Xue Qinghe, so there were some things Fang Xuan could not say directly here.

"All of you, withdraw. Do not disturb us unless summoned."

Xue Qinghe raised a hand and dismissed everyone else. Soon, only she and Fang Xuan remained where they were.

Seeing the others leave, Fang Xuan wasted no words and went straight to the point.

"What does Your Highness think of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Spirit Hall could be considered enemies; it was just that the two sides had not completely torn off the pretense yet.

Even the current imperial family had a somewhat delicate relationship with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

After all, no emperor would be willing to have such an existence under him, one capable of influencing his rule.

Xue Qinghe's eyes narrowed slightly. Fang Xuan's words truly surprised her.

She understood that with Fang Xuan's current identity as Ye Lingling's husband, he would have to face that side sooner or later.

The conflict between the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda and Nine-Heart Begonia was a secret blood feud. The title of number one under heaven had always been carved out through killing.

It was just that Fang Xuan had not yet grown strong. Wouldn't it be somewhat unwise to rashly make a move against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Or did he have some other idea?

"I don't think much of them. For the empire, they have both advantages and disadvantages."

She did not choose to answer Fang Xuan's question directly, but instead analyzed the situation from the empire's perspective.

"The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's support ability is unmatched under heaven, while the healing ability of the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul is also hard to rival. If the two truly had to be ranked, I'm afraid it would be very difficult."

Xue Qinghe's gaze sharpened as she stepped toward Fang Xuan, then leaned close to his ear and said softly, "Some matters are better not rushed. If you cannot kill in a single strike, you may suffer a backlash."

Fang Xuan was a talent, and she did not want to see him clash with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect right now.

Of course, those words were both a reminder and also a test of Fang Xuan's resolve and trump cards.

"Your Highness seems to have misunderstood me."

Fang Xuan chuckled softly, his expression unchanged.

"What I mean is whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect should be informed about the matter of Soul Tools."

"Your Highness also knows that research into Soul Tools will likely require a tremendous amount of money."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has the greatest wealth among the upper three sects. If we draw them in, this problem will be solved easily."

Directly clashing with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect right now was, of course, not a wise move, and he had never thought of going head-to-head with them.

There were many ways to deal with an opponent. Winning without bloodshed was the best strategy.

"Oh, then I misunderstood. In that case, according to your meaning..."

Stroking her chin, Xue Qinghe wore a faint smile.

She understood what Fang Xuan meant. Research into Soul Tools did indeed require large amounts of funding, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was undoubtedly a major patron.

But they were not the only possible patron. She could also be that patron.

"If we want to maximize returns, then of course the fewer participants, the better. Naturally, Soul Tools are still only a concept at present, and what they will truly become is still unknown. They are currently in the initial stage, without formal investment yet, so this aspect should be considered carefully."

"However, this is only a small thought of mine. The specific decision must still be made by you."

Fang Xuan handled the balance perfectly, giving the other party face while also stating what he wanted to do.

As long as Xue Qinghe was not a fool, she could not possibly let the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect participate.

Whether she was real or fake, it was the same.

"A very good idea. It is indeed a question worth considering."

After pretending to ponder for a moment, Xue Qinghe gave Fang Xuan the answer he wanted.

"I'll leave this matter entirely in your hands. I'll give you the greatest possible support from my side."

"However," Xue Qinghe said, changing tack as he gave Fang Xuan a mysterious smile, "this is, after all, a long-term project. We certainly can't have you researching it all on your own. Assistants and the like will be indispensable."

"Do you remember the person who got into a conflict with you on the street last time?"

"His name is Tailong. He's the young master of the Strength Clan. His grandfather is one of the only three divine craftsmen left in the world today, so perhaps he might be of some help to you."

Fang Xuan was taken aback. He had almost forgotten that ever happened.

As one of the Clear Sky Sect's former four great single-attribute subordinate clans, the Strength Clan was fairly well known.

Ever since the Clear Sky Sect withdrew from the world, causing them to suffer Spirit Hall's suppression, they had now declined quite a bit as well.

But a starving camel was still bigger than a horse. Aside from the Speed Clan, the other three clans were actually still doing fairly well.

On the Strength Clan's side, they relied on their forging skills, and even after breaking away from the Clear Sky Sect and being suppressed by Spirit Hall, they still retained no small amount of prestige.

"So it was him."

Thinking back to the scene that day, Fang Xuan was rather speechless too.

No wonder someone that brainless had shown up in Heaven Dou City. So it was the Ape Clan. That made sense.

After all, after being abandoned by their master, if someone tossed them a meat bone... no, actually, it seemed not even a bone had been tossed. They had simply smelled their master's scent and eagerly run over to kneel and lick his boots. If such people had something wrong with their brains, that was only normal.

Have someone like that help him? He had no hobby of raising dogs for other people.

But with the other party's identity, there was no way Xue Qinghe did not know.

Having former retainers of the Clear Sky Sect participate in something like this—wasn't that just planting a trap for him?

"Is he testing me? Interesting."

Faced with Xue Qinghe's test, Fang Xuan reacted extremely quickly and immediately refused the other party's "kindness."

"Many thanks for Your Highness's good intentions, but it would be best not to let too many people know about matters concerning Soul Tools."

"Besides, it's still only in the preliminary stage right now. I can handle it alone. As for the Strength Clan, I think there's no need. After all, they were once people of the Clear Sky Sect. It's hard to say they won't go back to their old ways."

Fang Xuan refused very decisively, without even leaving the slightest room for negotiation.

"Aside from coming here this time to discuss this matter with Your Highness the Crown Prince, there's also a personal matter of mine that I need Your Highness's help with."

"Oh? What is it?"

Xue Qinghe was very satisfied with Fang Xuan's answer just now.

His main reason had also been to test Fang Xuan's view of the Clear Sky Sect. After all, Tang Yuehua was on extremely close terms with the Ye Family.

But from the looks of it now, he had been overthinking things. Fang Xuan did not seem to have any special feelings toward the Clear Sky Sect.

It was just that he was truly curious what this so-called personal matter of Fang Xuan's was.

"Get me an identity at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."